From Middle English lere, from Old English Ä¡elÇ£re, *lÇ£re (“empty, void, empty-handed"), from Proto-Germanic*lÄ“ziz, *lÄ“zijaz (“empty"), from Proto-Indo-European*les- (“to collect, pick"). Cognate with Dutchlaar (“a clearing in the woods"), German leer (“empty"). Related to Old English lesan (“to gather, collect"). More at lease.